Being Lara    by Lola Jaye Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2012 (2012) Softcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth By the time Lara was five years old, she knew she was different. She didn't have to come to that conclusion by herself. Her schoolmates let her know, as did their mothers and fathers. Any time she walked down the street with her parents, she could feel the stares. Lara was black and had white parents! How could that be? She enjoyed a happy home and felt her parents' care at every turn. They loved her without a doubt. But something was missing. Surely somewhere was a black mother who had given her away. Didn't want her. What could be wrong with her that her own mother didn't want her? Lara fought this conviction all her life. Despite it, she moved on in the world. But she never felt deserving of her accomplishments. Now on her thirtieth birthday, her question is answered. Now the question becomes whether she is ready to accept the reality? Being Lara is a well-written novel that speaks of adoption of children from another culture, from the point-of-view of an adopted child. I am the grandmother of two adopted children, one of whom is from another culture. The points in Being Lara are well taken and much of what Lara went through, so did my beautiful granddaughter. In spades. This is a novel that makes readers stop and think - and then re-think - their own views on other culture adoptions. Come to your own conclusions. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews